Video: why did Whoopi and Joy Behar storm off The View?

A discussion on the latest episode of The View grew so heated that co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar marched off the set.

A discussion on the latest episode of The View grew so heated that co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar marched off the set.

The episode's guest was notoriously Fox News bully presenter Bill O'Reilly, who showed up to argue about the controversial Muslim community centre to be built not far from the World Trade Center site. (The centre, dubbed a "mosque", has divided Americans.)

The argument took a turn for the gutter as O'Reilly blamed the September 11 terrorist attacks on Muslims (not just Muslim extremists. All Muslims), prompting the famously liberal Whoopi and Joy to exit stage right when O'Reilly shouted over their objections.

"I don't want to sit here anymore," Joy fumed as she made her departure.

The View's matriarch Barbara Walter stepped in, unhappy about what had gone down: "You have just seen what should not happen," she said, addressing the audience. "We should be able to have discussions without washing our hands and screaming and walking offstage. I love my colleagues, but that should not have happened."

Bawbawa then dismantled O'Reilly with her words, though he slimily rebutted that he meant Muslim extremists all along. Sure you did, Bill.